Imran Tahir is the epitome of a journeyman cricketer. In fact, he has barely stopped moving. Since starting his first-class career in 1996-97 he has racked up at least 10 teams ranging from Lahore to Yorkshire via the Titans in South Africa. He has had stints with three English counties; Middlesex, Yorkshire and Hampshire, who he signed for in 2008. That he has never remained anywhere for very long suggests a cricketer who has failed to live up to his potential, but his first-class record is impressive with a fine average and imposing strike-rate - impressive enough, in fact, to earn him a call-up to the South Africa Test squad in January 2010 during their home series against England.

However, confusion reigned supreme as later the same day the decision was overturned after it became clear Tahir was not yet eligible for South Africa. A few days later Gerald Majola, the CSA boss, admitted it came as a "shock" to see Tahir in the 15-man party and that the incident had caused "much embarrassment." It was confirmed that Tahir was not available for South Africa until December 2010, which ruled him out of the tours to India and West Indies when it was originally believed in qualified in April 2009. Tahir continued to pick up loads of wickets in the domestic circuit for Dolphins, and was finally granted South African citizenship by by naturalisation in January 2011. Less than a week later, he was picked for South Africa's squad for the one-dayers against India. He continued to climb the rungs of international cricket, finding a place in South Africa's Test side for the home series against Australia in 2011.
Cricinfo staff